What Is Karaoke?

Pronunciation:  "kar-E-'O-kEy or "kä-rä-'O-(")kA
 

Meaning:  A form of entertainment believed to have originally developed in Japan, in which amateur performers sing songs to the accompaniment of pre-recorded music.  It involves using a karaoke machine which, as well as providing the backing track, also enables the singer to follow the words on a screen.

Karaoke has been entertaining people ever since its invention some 20+ years ago.  Karaoke is a word formed from putting two Japanese words together.  "Kara" that comes from Karappo, meaning empty, and "Oke", shortened from Okesutura, meaning "orchestra".  

So Karaoke means "empty orchestra".  

It is understood that the use of karaoke started at a snack bar in Kobe City.   It is said that when a strolling guitarist could not come to perform at the bar due to illness or other reasons, the owner of the bar prepared tapes of accompaniment recordings, and vocalists enjoyed singing to the tapes.   Even though it is only legend, this might have been the beginning of karaoke, and since then, karaoke has been commercialized and has become popular all over Japan and now in the United States.   

However other opinions say it was already known between 1950 and 1960 that it

began with an American TV-show.  According to that version, TV-spectors sang following a ball jumping above the song text on their TV-screen.

Karaoke Service

Available for Bars, Clubs, or Private Party

Our song list exceeds 8000 songs (English and Español) with new selections added regularly.